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Trump, Democrats Spar as Gov’t Shutdown Looms

Trump, Democrats Spar as Gov’t Shutdown Looms

US President Donald Trump clashed with Democratic leaders in dramatic fashion Tuesday, heaping pressure on Congress to craft a compromise on federal spending or face a crippling government shutdown in 10 days.
Hours after the president suggested a funding deal with Democrats may be impossible, house minority leader Nancy Pelosi and top senate Democrat Chuck Schumer pulled out of a planned White House meeting with Trump that they said would be fruitless, AFP reported.
“Given that the president doesn’t see a deal between Democrats and the White House, we believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead,” the pair said in a statement.
Trump shot back that he was not surprised the Democrats rejected his offer, saying they were “very far apart” on several issues like immigration.
“They’ve been all talk and they’ve been no action. And now it’s even worse, now it’s not even talk,” Trump declared during the meeting, which went ahead with Republican congressional leaders —an empty chair on either side of the president underscoring the absence of their Democratic counterparts.
The spat heaps pressure on Congress to craft a compromise or face a crippling government shutdown next month.